The Science of Scent

Does Coffee Bean Storage Temperature Change the Aroma in the Cup?

A study stored opened coffee beans at 5°C and 20°C for one month, then compared their compounds and the sensory qualities of the brews. The effects of cool storage did not appear in the same way in cold brew and espresso.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

When You Hear “Natural Scent,” What Smells and Colors Come to Mind?

Fresh and light, but not expected to be almost odorless. A survey in France and the United States helps us explore the smells and colors people associate with naturalness.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Can the Smell of Food Increase How Much We Actually Eat?

A study in which 32 people experienced four food odors and an odorless condition. We explore the increased food intake with chocolate odor and the differing results for appetite and saliva.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Does a Flower Smell Different Inside and Out?

Fruit-like compounds outside a tubular flower, and different floral compounds inside: even within the same flower, scent varied with location, day and night, and reproductive stage. Examining color and secretions at the entrance as well reveals multiple cues that could attract flies and guide them into the flower.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Does Knowing a Scent Is “Natural” Make You Like It More?

If you heard that a scent you liked was “made from natural ingredients,” would you like it even more? Conversely, would your impression of it become less favorable if you heard that it was “made using biocatalysis or biotechnology”?

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

How Is Floral Scent Diversity Related to Insects and Bacteria?

A study of Alpine flowers compared the chemical diversity of their scents with the variety of insects and bacteria associated with them. It introduces a hypothesis linking the welcoming of visitors with selective microbial establishment.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Which Flies Carry Pollen from Foul-Smelling Flowers?

A small flower growing among rocks in South Africa was supported by flies that had scarcely been known as pollinators. A dung-like odor and just a little nectar: investigating how pollen is carried reveals a complex relationship in which even an unpleasant-smelling flower attracts its partners and encourages them to stay.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

If You Misname a Smell, Do You Still Know Something About It?

If someone calls the smell of an apple “fruit,” is that wrong? A study of responses from 2,479 adults in Sweden showed that knowledge about an odor can remain in the words people use even when they cannot name it correctly.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Why Do Some People Dislike the Smell of Fish While Others Do Not Mind It?

People smelling the same fish odor can differ in perceived intensity, unpleasantness, and the names that come to mind. A study of 11,326 people in Iceland linked part of that variation to genetic differences in olfactory receptors.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent

Does the Corpse Flower’s Scent Change from Night to Night?

The titan arum is known for its carrion-like smell. Continuous measurements during flowering showed differences in both the amount and the mixture of compounds between the first night, when pollen is received, and the next, when it is released. Calculations of changes in the air also suggest that air pollution could disrupt communication between flowers and insects.

2026.11.03

The Science of Scent